Unfortunately, not even Jackie's wrath was enough to get rid of the bloody Dalek, and Rose was decidedly grumpy when they set off on their next adventure. The Doctor was feeling (mostly) guilty about his role in the Powell Estate visit, so he decided to take Rose and Jack to a lovely little planet on the edge of the Caldolan solar system, replete with sunshine, charming village squares and shops, and absolutely no run-for-your-life scenarios.

And if Jack decided that it was all a bit too humdrum for an ex-Time Agent and chose to stay in the TARDIS and do some reading while the Doctor and Rose walked together, hand-in-hand through the pastoral countryside, well, virtue was its own reward, right?

Of course not. It was never quite that simple. Rose, having fought her mother tooth and nail in defense of her pet, was now insisting that Pedro needed a bit of fresh air. The Doctor tried every excuse he could come up with to leave the Dalek in the TARDIS, from concerns about Pedro running amok to dire warnings about Dalek skin cancer, all to no avail.

Pedro was coming with them, and that was that. Rose helped the little monster clamber up onto her shoulder, where it clutched at her neck, wheezing slightly.

The Doctor huffed, but since there was nothing to be done, he settled for grabbing Rose's hand and brooding (just a little) as they started on their walk to the closest village. Rose squeezed his hand conciliatorily, which helped put him in a slightly better mood, especially when she added a happy smile to the mix. But when the Doctor felt a brush of telepathic contact from their joined hands, he nearly broke away in shock.

…Rose? he projected at her, not quite able to believe that she had managed to speak to him with only her mind.

TIME…LORD.

This time, he did stop and drop her hand as he realized who was communicating.

Rose turned in surprise. "Something wrong?" she asked, frowning.

The Doctor looked between her and the Dalek, who had one of his tentacles positioned over the vertebrae of her neck.

"Um," he said.

Rose looked around nervously. "Do we need to start running?"

"No…no," the Doctor said. "Sorry, just, um, remembered something. It's not important." He didn't want to get into another Pedro-related argument quite this soon, so he started walking again. Rose joined him, but when she reached a hand out for one of his, he ignored it and tucked his hands into his pockets.

After a moment, Rose spoke again. "You're angry about something."

The Doctor glanced at her and realized with a jolt that she was looking down at her hands sadly.

Damn that Dalek to hell and back.

"I'm not angry, Rose," he said gently, and took one of her hands again. The bright smile she sent him mostly made up for the shock of the renewed telepathic connection.

I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU, TIME LORD.

You're piggybacking your telepathic communications on Rose's sympathetic nervous system, thought the Doctor crossly.

CORRECT, thought the Dalek smugly.

Well, stop it, thought the Doctor, his anger tingeing his thoughts red. You don't have her permission to do that.

THERE IS NO HARM TO ROSE, thought Pedro. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD LET GO OF HER HAND.

Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? snarled the Doctor. Well, nothing doing. Maybe YOU should take your tentacle off of her first thoracic nerve segment.

I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, TIME LORD, thought the Dalek, ignoring his demands. YOU WILL ANSWER THEM HONESTLY OR I WILL EXTERMINATE YOU.

With what? snarked the Doctor. Dalek slime?

But Pedro ignored him. WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS TOWARD ROSE?

What?

WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS TOWARD THE HUMAN FEMALE ROSE? Pedro repeated.

What do you mean, intentions? asked the Doctor uncomfortably.

YOUR HEARTRATE INCREASES UPON INCREASED INTERACTION WITH THE HUMAN FEMALE ROSE. YOUR PUPILS DIALATE WHEN YOU OBSERVE HER. YOUR GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSES INDICATE AROUSAL WHEN YOU COME IN PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH HER…

Ugg! interrupted the Doctor. Stop cataloguing my physiology, you horrible monstrosity, or I'll…I'll.."

YOU WILL WHAT? questioned the Dalek.

I'll wipe you out of space/time; how about that? threatened the Doctor grimly.

BASED ON PAST OBSERVATIONS, I CALCULATE ONLY A .002% CHANCE OF THAT, thought the Dalek, his thoughts once again sounding smug. SINCE IT WOULD GREATLY DISPLEASE ROSE. NOW ANSWER MY QUESTION!

The Doctor grimaced. I don't know what you mean, he thought uncomfortably. I don't have any "intentions" toward her.

INCORRECT, snapped Pedro. DO YOU INTEND TO PURSUE HER PURELY FOR PHYSICAL GRATIFICATION?

What!

YOU HEARD ME.

No! thought the Doctor. Of course not!

"Doctor, are you feeling all right?" asked Rose tentatively, interrupting the mental communications. "Your face has gone all red."

"Uh, it's just a bit hot out," muttered the Doctor.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear black leather and jumpers out in the sun," she suggested gently.

DO NOT REMOVE YOUR CLOTHING OR I WILL EXTERMINATE YOU.

"I'm not going to," snapped the Doctor, only realizing too late that he'd spoken out loud.

"Well, that'll be a first," replied Rose tartly. "But that hardly changes what you're wearing now."

"No, I mean…" the Doctor trailed off as he turned to her. "Sorry, I was thinking of something else."

Rose looked at him coolly. "'S'alright," she said. "Just no need to get defensive."

"Right," agreed the Doctor. "Sorry."

They continued on in silence.

IF NOT FOR PHYSICAL GRATIFICATION… began the Dalek.

Oi, stop using that phrase! thought the Doctor, wincing.

…THEN DO YOU INTEND TO USE ROSE TO DISSEMINATE YOUR GENETIC MATERIAL?

WHAT! No! The Doctor's frame jerked and he narrowly avoided stumbling.

YOU DO NOT INTEND TO MATE WITH ROSE FOR THE PURPOSES OF REPOPULATING YOUR SPECIES?

That's probably not even possible, and I certainly haven't been planning on it! protested the Doctor.

BASED ON DALEK INTELLIGENCE OF TIME LORD DNA GATHERED DURING THE TIME WAR, I CALCULATE AN 87.4% CHANCE THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A VIABLE OFFSPRING.

The Doctor paused. …Really?

YOU SAID YOU DID NOT INTEND TO…

Yes, right, I don't, thought the Doctor hurriedly. Anyway, I don't know why you're interrogating me about all this. Captain Jack's the one to keep an eye on.

AGREED. HOWEVER, CAPTAIN JACK IS NOT THE SENTIENT FOR WHOM ROSE EXPRESSES A PREFERENCE.

Hmph, well that's good, thought the Doctor. Wait…what does that mean?

NEVER MIND.

No, really. What do you mean by that?

IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

Yes, it bloody well is…

"Doctor, you're cutting off the circulation to my fingers," said Rose, wiggling her hand in his grasp. "You sure you're all right?"

"Yes, sorry," muttered the Doctor, loosening his grip.

"You're acting really weird today," observed Rose before adding quietly, "I mean, weirder than usual."

The Doctor gave her a Look, clearly having heard her. Rose bit her lip. The Doctor quirked an eyebrow at her, and her lips twitched. He kept it up until she broke into a cheeky grin. The Doctor tried to maintain a stern expression, but he couldn't help but smile back. Pretty soon, they were both just standing there, grinning at each other, and any moment, Rose was going to start giggling.

THERE, THAT IS THE RESPONSE TO WHICH I AM REFERING, interjected Pedro.

The Doctor jolted a bit and started walking again, pulling Rose along. That's what he got for forgetting they weren't alone, he supposed. They walked past the first few houses in the village.

Mind your own bloody business, he thought to the Dalek grumpily.

YOU STILL HAVE NOT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

Don't see why I should.

I REQUIRE THIS INFORMATION.

Well, too bad for you! Maybe you should explain YOUR intentions toward her.

I ASKED FIRST.

The Doctor huffed.

IF YOUR PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE INDICATES PHYSICAL ATTRACTION AND YOUR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS INDICATE AFFECTION AND CERTAIN, LOCALIZED ALTERATIONS TO YOUR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM INDICATE…

All right, fine! It's because I love her, you nosy sod!

The Dalek was silent for a long moment, while the Doctor mentally kicked himself for saying that.

Look, just forget that last bit…

…ROSE PREFERS WHITE FLOWERS, Pedro interrupted.

What?

WE HAVE JUST PASSED A SMALL SHOPFRONT OFFERING A SELECTION OF FLORA. ROSE PREFERS WHITE FLOWERS. WITH LARGE PETALS. AND SMALL LEAVES.

The Doctor just sent him back a wave of confusion. The Dalek rolled its eye.

IT IS A CONTINUING PUZZLE TO ME THAT YOUR SPECIES WAS EVER ABLE TO BEST MINE IN BATTLE. TURN AROUND, WALK BACK TO THE FLORAL DISPENSARY, AND ACQUIRE A FLOWER FOR ROSE. A WHITE FLOWER. WITH LARGE PETALS AND SMALL LEAVES.

…Why?

I AM BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF ROSE TYLER'S AFFECTIONS, the Dalek thought, projecting its thoughts with an acerbic air.

All right, all right, I'll do it! The Doctor stopped and turned back around.

"Where are you going?" asked Rose, confused.

"Um," answered the Doctor, gesturing toward the flower shop. "Do you want a flower?"

"Oh," said Rose, blinking. She sounded surprised. "Sure, I guess." But the Doctor couldn't help but notice that her cheeks had pinked up considerably.

The Doctor reached for a white flower but then glanced back at Pedro. The Dalek subtly shook its head and then pointed toward the right. The Doctor looked where it indicated and saw a lovely white flower with—ah, large petals and small leaves. Right.

While he was fishing out some coins to pay the merchant for the flower, the Doctor noticed that Rose was fighting a small smile. It was still on her face when he handed it to her.

"What?" he asked.

"S'nothing," said Rose, touching her flower almost shyly. "Just…thanks." She seemed to reach a decision and stretched up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"You're welcome," he answered softly, threading their fingers together. They smiled at each other.

THAT IS SUFFICIENT AFFECTIONATE INTERACTION, interrupted Pedro hurriedly.

The Doctor rolled his eyes as he and Rose continued their walk, but, he reflected with no small amount of surprise, there were probably worse choices for a chaperon out there.

Probably.